Orange Production Down & Proposed Climate Agency

Orange Production Down & Proposed Climate Agency plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

The Obama Administration proposed a new climate service this week that could provide farmers with valuable information on how climate change might impact growing conditions. The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration Climate Service - whose creation Congress must still okay amid continuing criticism of global warming forecasts - would provide farmers with critical climate information. Thomas Karl heads NOAA’s NationalClimaticDataCenter in Asheville, North Caroline and would serve as transitional Director of the new climate service - which he says could help producers in key ways.

KARL: Irrigation. For example we are developing a national integrated drought information system. This is extremely important because it will help farmers identify what the soil moisture conditions are throughout the year including the planting seasons.

USDA reports that the U.S. all orange forecast for the 2009-10 season at 7.94 million tons is down three percent from the January 1^st forecast and down 14 percent from the 2008-09 final utilization report.  The Florida all orange forecast, at 129 million boxes, is down 4 percent from the previous forecast and down 21 percent from last season's final utilization. That freeze over New Year’s had a big impact.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

I’ve decided to do something different for my hubby this year in celebration of Valentine’s Day, which just happens to be my favorite holiday. We’re going to have a day filled with heart healthy foods. Now before you say “ewe” let me tell you a few of the surprisingly delicious foods on my Valentine list that are heart smart. We’ll start off with a bowl of hot oatmeal, which by the way does more than just lower cholesterol; it’s also a good source of an amino acid known for motivating your mojo.  Later in the day a stir fry with fresh veggies, some seeds and nuts, and spices like turmeric and cayenne pepper will get the blood flowing. Then everyone knows that chocolate is the food of love and glory be, they’ve even gone and found that it’s good for you! Researchers have found that an intake of foods rich in cocoa may help to reduce blood pressure, and people who enjoy dark chocolate have slightly higher concentrations of good cholesterol. If that wasn’t already good enough news research suggests that moderate red wine consumption has some heart healthy effects as well. Celebrate the day of love by celebrating with heart healthy foods. Your heart and his will love you for it.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.